Mozambique’s Attorney General, Américo Letela, stated on Monday (8) that combating organised crime in the country requires a more assertive approach from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), focused on identifying the true masterminds, financiers, and beneficiaries of criminal activities, particularly kidnappings and drug trafficking.
According to the newspaper O País, Letela spoke at the opening of the 8th edition of the SERNIC Coordinating Council, emphasising that current efforts to dismantle operational cells and arrest material perpetrators, while important, are insufficient to curb the growing insecurity affecting the country.
“Society is no longer satisfied with isolated operations or the display of minor investigative leads. The people demand to know who the masterminds are—the ones who plan, finance, and profit from these heinous crimes,” said the Attorney General.
He added that SERNIC’s performance should be measured by its ability to conduct in-depth investigations that hold the intellectual actors of organised crime accountable and anticipate criminal activity.
“SERNIC must adopt a new institutional posture, protect society, and reaffirm the authority of justice,” he declared.
Letela also warned about the impact of drug trafficking, fuelled by transnational networks, which he said threatens the country’s economic and social stability. In this context, he stressed that it is not enough to seize narcotics, shut down “drug labs,” or arrest couriers and consumers.
“It is imperative to reveal who profits from this criminal activity that destroys lives, families, and the future of the Nation,” he emphasised.
Another critical issue addressed by the Attorney General was corruption, which he described as an insidious crime that undermines institutions, weakens public trust, and facilitates offences such as money laundering, terrorism, and its financing. According to Letela, the current scenario demands that SERNIC maintain high technical standards and rigor in the collection, processing, and analysis of information.
During his speech, he also condemned the involvement of agents from within the institution in criminal practices, including sharing information with illegal networks or using institutional resources for illicit purposes.
“The misuse of privileged positions to compromise SERNIC’s mission will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Letela further denounced cases of tampering with forensic results in exchange for favors, describing such acts as a betrayal of the public service oath.
The 8th edition of the SERNIC Coordinating Council is held under the motto:
“For Criminal Investigation with High Standards, Technical Rigor, and Commitment to Legality.”
Source: Diário Económico
